You Gotta Hear This: Mandinga’s Salsa Covers Are Insane!

Alright, have you ever heard a song and thought, “Damn, this would sound fire as a salsa track”? No? Just me? Cool, cool. Well, let me put you on to something real quick. There’s this band called Mandinga, and they do exactly that. They take popular songs and flip them into salsa bangers. I’m not talking about half-assed, karaoke-style remixes. These guys actually know what they’re doing and bring the real energy of salsa into their covers.

I randomly stumbled on their salsa version of “Levitating” (you know, the Dua Lipa song), and I had to hit replay at least three times. They kept all the groove from the original but injected that sabor with horns, percussion, and a rhythm that makes you want to dance. It legit sounds like it was meant to be a salsa song all along. If you haven’t heard it yet, do yourself a favor and click this now.

Who the Hell Are Mandinga?

Here’s the crazy part. Mandinga isn’t even from Latin America. They’re from Romania. Yeah, you read that right. Freakin’ Bucharest, my guy. And yet, these musicians are out here making some of the most legit Latin music you’ll ever hear.

They started back in 2002, blending Romanian, Cuban, and Spanish influences into their sound. Over time, they just kept getting better and better. They even represented Romania in Eurovision 2012, which is basically like the Olympics of weirdly amazing music performances. Their song “Zaleilah” was a whole vibe, and they ended up in 12th place, which is pretty impressive considering how competitive Eurovision is.

The band has gone through some lineup changes over the years. Their current lead singer, Bárbara Isasi, is from Spain, and she KILLS it. Her voice is smooth, controlled, and full of energy. The way she rides those salsa rhythms is pure magic.

What Makes Their Salsa Covers So Damn Good?

Look, I’m a sucker for salsa versions of pop songs, but let’s be real. Most of them suck. It’s usually some half-baked studio project where they just throw congas on a track and call it a day. Mandinga actually understands salsa. They know how to arrange it, how to build up energy, when to bring in the horns, and how to keep the percussion tight. Their covers sound like they were originally written as salsa songs.

They’ve done some sick covers, including:

• “Levitating” by Dua Lipa – Already linked above. You’re welcome.
• “Hello” by Adele – Imagine Adele, but make it danceable. Check it out.
• Other pop-to-salsa flips that will make you want to grab a drink, find a dance floor, and pretend you actually know how to dance.

Where Can You Hear More?

If you’re feeling what I’m saying, you need to check them out. Their music is available on all major platforms, so you have no excuse.

YouTube – Their videos go crazy.
Spotify – Perfect for your next “I suddenly want to be a salsa dancer” moment.
Apple Music – Because you’re fancy like that.

Mandinga is the real deal. They have been doing this for over 20 years, and they still bring the fire. If you love salsa, or even if you just need some new music to vibe to, trust me on this. You’re going to love them.

Now, who’s ready to hit up a salsa club?